Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;PHALDIMXAP&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDIMXAP’, particularly characterized by purple flowers with lighter center and dark purple lip, 2 to 3 peduncles, a short, sturdy and branching inflorescence, dark green leaves with narrow obovate shape, and propagation by tissue culture is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Phalaenopsis

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PHALDIMXAP’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDIMXAP’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow, and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDIMXAP’ is particularly characterized by its attractive and unique purple flowers, economical propagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALDIMXAP’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDIMXAP’ originated from a cross made in January 2004 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. Both parents are unknown Phalaenopsis pot plants. A single plant was selected in January 2007 and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by tissue culture in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands over a 6-year period. The new variety has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDIMXAP’ by tissue culture was first performed in August 2009 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and has demonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Apr. 25, 2012. ‘PHALDIMXAP’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

1) Purple flower with lighter center and dark purple lip;

2) 2 to 3 peduncles;

3) Inflorescence is short, sturdy and branching;

4) Dark green leaves with narrow obovate shape; and

5) Plants are propagated by tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in February 2013.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage of ‘PHALDIMXAP’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower of ‘PHALDIMXAP’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDIMXAP’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALDIMXAP’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week old plants which were planted from tissue culture in 12 centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in February 2013. Color readings were taken under 4000 till 6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis Blume.         -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALDIMXAP’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘unknown’.         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘unknown’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture. -   Plant:     -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48             to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.         -   Growth habit of inflorescence.—standard type, dark green             leaves and normal panicle.         -   Height (measured including pot and including             inflorescence).—40 cm to 45 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—38 cm to 43 cm.         -   Vigor.—moderate. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—grey-green-colored roots with branching             lateral roots having grey-green-colored root tips. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 8 to 9 leaves are             produced before flowering Length (fully expanded): 19 cm to             21 cm Width: 5 cm to 7 cm Shape: narrow obovate Apex:             mucronate Base: cuneate Leaf blade angle with the petiole:             between 15 degrees and 30 degrees Leaf margin: entire Color:             Upper surface: RHS 139 A Lower surface: RHS 146 B Texture:             smooth and a little bit rough Thickness: 2.5 mm Venation:             Pattern: parallel Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS             136 A Lower surface: RHS 137 A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—2 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—22 to 30.         -   Length.—30 cm.         -   Diameter.—about 0.5 cm.         -   Strength.—strong.         -   Aspect.—upright.         -   Texture.—smooth.         -   Color.—brown (RHS 200 A).         -   Internode length.—25 mm to 45 mm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—upright to slightly pendant, panicle             inflorescence.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 50 mm to 70             mm Diameter: 110 mm to 140 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12 cm pot         -   Flower.—Height: 40 mm to 50 mm Diameter: 50 mm to 60 mm             Depth of lip: 20 mm to 25 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 10 to 14 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—absent.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: open Shape: semi-circular Apex:             symmetric and mucronate Margin: entire Length: 29 mm to 32             mm Width: 23 mm to 26 mm Color (when fully opened): Main             color: purple (RHS 77 A) At the base: light purple (RHS 77             B).         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: elliptic Length: 24 mm to 26 mm Width:             19 mm to 22 mm Color (when fully opened): Main color: purple             (RHS 77 A) At the base: light purple(RHS 77 B).         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: ovate Length: 19 mm to 21 mm Width:             25 mm to 27 mm Color (when fully opened): Main color: purple             (RHS 77 A) At the base: purple, a little bit spotted (RHS 77             A).         -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: entire Length: 16 mm to 18 mm Width:             15 mm to 17 mm.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: type IV (see explanation) Color: dark             purple, almost evenly colored (RHS 59 A).         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: ovate Color: dark purple, evenly colored             (RHS 59 A).         -   Callus.—Color: yellow/orange with red dots (22A RHS). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma as located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present.         -   Column.—Length: 10 mm to 11 mm Diameter: 7 mm to 8 mm Color:             purple (RHS 81 A).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2 Size: 1 mm to 1.1 mm Color: orange             (RHS 26 A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 7 mm to 9 mm Diameter: 4 mm to 5 mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 20 mm to 25 mm Diameter: 3 mm to 4 mm. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a     high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

Presently there is no commercial cultivar to which ‘PHALDIMXAP’ can be meaningfully compared. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALDIMXAP’ as shown and described herein. 